Throughout the novel PeaceLike ARiverby Leif Enger, references to other novels, concepts, or thoughts, have helped the reader better understand the situation. The reference may include biblical stories or famous novels. Most of these allusions deal with miracles, as it is an important idea in this novel; however, not all are.
"You don't think he's up there with Moses" (pg.168) This quote was spoken by Swede in a conversation with Reuben while in the trailer. Swede was referring to the bible, in which Moses is one of God's prophets. By Swede saying this, we are able to see that she is finally realizing how unique her father truely is, though she may be a little to proud and boastful about Jeremiah's abilities. Given the nature of the novel, I feel that by Swede putting her father against and above those individuals in the Old Testament, she may be letting forth a malevolent harbinger of events to come. If Jeremiah truely was a mesiah of sorts, it is doubtful that God would appreciate Jeremiah being put above and made put to be better than previous prophets.
"My goodness, Swede, don't you know Moby Dick has already been written" (pg.161) Reuben is telling this to Swede. They are talking about when Jonah was eaten by the whale. She was telling him the story, and how God put Jonah in the whale for three days to get some peace and quiet from him. Before that she was saying how annoying Jonah was, with all of the things he asked of God.
"Lazarus obeying orders and climbing out of the grave-- now theres a miracle" (pg. 3) This is an allusion about Jesus rising up Lazarus from the grave after he died. The speaker of the quote is Reuben Land. Reuben was refering to Swede Land.
"She looked at me, and I was like Kipling's jungle beasts who couldn't meet the eye of a man" (pg. 31)
"I could read the spines from where I lay. C.S Lewis. Graham Green. Charles Dickens... She returned to bed at last with a book of poems by Robert Louis Stevenson" (pg. 87) The narrator of the quote is Rueben. He an Swede are in the lawyer's study the night before the trial. They were sent to bed too early and cannot sleep, so Swede is getting some books to read. Then, they get the idea in their heads that they are going to break Davy out of jail.
"So I hushed her and reminded her how Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry had sworn silence in the matter of Injun Joe, and how running and hding from the law was a privilege few kids ever had, and how we ought not blow it by bragging to someone we just met." (pg. 188)
"No, he couldn't fix it. All the king's horses and all the king's men." (pg. 191)
"How many times did Zorro gallop magnicently out of town, everyone watching, then show up five minutes later as Diego, still breathing hard? And no one ever figured that out." (pg. 192) This is an allusion because it is referring to Zorro. The allusion shows how Zorro saves his land and when he turns to Diego no one knows that he is Zorro even though he is "still breathing hard". This refers to Davy killing the boys but no one knows that he is defending his family. "But clearly Roxanna was thrown for no such loop, for she emerged upbeat from the bathroom, hair kerchiefed back like Aunt Jemina's," (pg. 193) Why did you choose this picture? We chose this picture because it has the word Allusions in it, and it has a picture of a small boy that can be viewed to be Reuben. Discussion questions: 1. Why did the author choose to use allusions in the novel? The author chose to use allusions in the novel to illustrate the story, and to get his point across. 2. How can the allusions relate to the actual plot of Reuben and Swede's life? 3. What is you favorite allusion in the novel? why?
My favorite allusion from the novel is the Allusion to Job (it is not mentioned on the page, but now it is so there). This is my favorite because it is the one Bible story i remember. Also because it shows that it is possible to have complete faith in something no matter what would try and destroy that faith. To me people need to have faith in something be it a deity or just faith that we will have a snow day .
Allusions
Throughout the novel Peace Like A Rive r by Leif Enger, references to other novels, concepts, or thoughts, have helped the reader better understand the situation. The reference may include biblical stories or famous novels. Most of these allusions deal with miracles, as it is an important idea in this novel; however, not all are.
"You don't think he's up there with Moses" (pg.168)
This quote was spoken by Swede in a conversation with Reuben while in the trailer. Swede was referring to the bible, in which Moses is one of God's prophets. By Swede saying this, we are able to see that she is finally realizing how unique her father truely is, though she may be a little to proud and boastful about Jeremiah's abilities. Given the nature of the novel, I feel that by Swede putting her father against and above those individuals in the Old Testament, she may be letting forth a malevolent harbinger of events to come. If Jeremiah truely was a mesiah of sorts, it is doubtful that God would appreciate Jeremiah being put above and made put to be better than previous prophets.
"My goodness, Swede, don't you know Moby Dick has already been written" (pg.161)
Reuben is telling this to Swede. They are talking about when Jonah was eaten by the whale. She was telling him the story, and how God put Jonah in the whale for three days to get some peace and quiet from him. Before that she was saying how annoying Jonah was, with all of the things he asked of God.
"Lazarus obeying orders and climbing out of the grave-- now theres a miracle" (pg. 3) This is an allusion about Jesus rising up Lazarus from the grave after he died. The speaker of the quote is Reuben Land. Reuben was refering to Swede Land.
"She looked at me, and I was like Kipling's jungle beasts who couldn't meet the eye of a man" (pg. 31)
"I could read the spines from where I lay. C.S Lewis. Graham Green. Charles Dickens... She returned to bed at last with a book of poems by Robert Louis Stevenson" (pg. 87)
The narrator of the quote is Rueben. He an Swede are in the lawyer's study the night before the trial. They were sent to bed too early and cannot sleep, so Swede is getting some books to read. Then, they get the idea in their heads that they are going to break Davy out of jail.
"So I hushed her and reminded her how Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry had sworn silence in the matter of Injun Joe, and how running and hding from the law was a privilege few kids ever had, and how we ought not blow it by bragging to someone we just met." (pg. 188)
"No, he couldn't fix it. All the king's horses and all the king's men." (pg. 191)
"How many times did Zorro gallop magnicently out of town, everyone watching, then show up five minutes later as Diego, still breathing hard? And no one ever figured that out." (pg. 192) This is an allusion because it is referring to Zorro. The allusion shows how Zorro saves his land and when he turns to Diego no one knows that he is Zorro even though he is "still breathing hard". This refers to Davy killing the boys but no one knows that he is defending his family.
"But clearly Roxanna was thrown for no such loop, for she emerged upbeat from the bathroom, hair kerchiefed back like Aunt Jemina's," (pg. 193)
Why did you choose this picture?
We chose this picture because it has the word Allusions in it, and it has a picture of a small boy that can be viewed to be Reuben.
Discussion questions:
1. Why did the author choose to use allusions in the novel?
The author chose to use allusions in the novel to illustrate the story, and to get his point across.
2. How can the allusions relate to the actual plot of Reuben and Swede's life?
3. What is you favorite allusion in the novel? why?
My favorite allusion from the novel is the Allusion to Job (it is not mentioned on the page, but now it is so there). This is my favorite because it is the one Bible story i remember. Also because it shows that it is possible to have complete faith in something no matter what would try and destroy that faith. To me people need to have faith in something be it a deity or just faith that we will have a snow day .